State Police Start Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in County
Several state police commercial vehicle teams will be patrolling the beltway.
The Maryland State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division Thursday will be conducting “Operation Tailgate, ”an initiative targeting unsafe and overweight commercial vehicles in Prince George’s County.
“Operation Tailgate” will target commercial trucks and buses traveling the I-95/I-495 corridor. State police personnel, along with state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies will be operating stationary inspections and roving patrols in the area.
Several state police commercial vehicle teams will be patrolling I-495.
During the inspection process, efforts will be focused on locating wanted fugitives, impaired drivers, unqualified commercial vehicle operators, fraudulent documents and other unlawful behavior.
During the last “Operation Tailgate,” in July 2011, a total of 351 commercial vehicles were inspected. Of those, 35 vehicles were placed out of service due to serious equipment violations. Another 25 drivers were placed out of service.
Troopers issued 108 traffic citations and 128 warnings. Two drivers were arrested on outstanding warrants and one passenger of a commercial truck was arrested for the possession of marijuana.
The highly traveled Interstate 495 is one of the identified commercial vehicle high crash corridors in Maryland.
Clarence Glynn Jr
6:50 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
what does arresting people for outstanding warrants, marijuana possession have to do with safety
Peter Lewnes
10:44 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
YOUR KIDDING, RIGHT? OR are YOU a fugitive smoking marijuana?
Clarence Glynn Jr
11:01 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
No I'm not kidding. Using safety to infringe on people's right is plain wrong. Its called the 4th amendment. Now, if they were stopping people to check out the safety of the vehicle, like they said. "an initiative targeting unsafe and overweight commercial vehicles." Then I wouldn't have a problem, but to run checks on drivers and search their vehicles. Where's the probable cause. What's to say car aren't next? Why not just pull over everyone and let them produce their papers to make sure they are legit. Better yet, let's check everyone's home for safety violations and while the authorities are at it they can search for illegal activities.
Peter Lewnes
11:26 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Sounds as if YOU have had problems with the POLICE in the past! If your NOT doing anything wrong or in violation of DOT rules, your not getting stopped! I have a Class A permit & tired of seeing some not doing what they are to do. No pre-trip, speeding, tail gating, etc! It could be YOUR child! As for the paper thing, I wish it would become LAW! This week, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT, 3rd DWI, kiiled someone. NICE, HUH? My family member, better hope they ship you out or confinement in prision where I cant reach YOU! these people are SUCKING the liveyhood out of US who are here legally and monies that could go to people living here!
Clarence Glynn Jr
11:58 am on Thursday, November 3, 2011
No problems with the police, retired military, current DoD employee with clearance so high you can only dream of. Then you should let me look thru your wallet, give me your computer passwords or better yet search your home anytime I want. You should have no problem with this since you aren’t doing anything wrong. Like I said, if they are doing the stops for safety, why run background checks on the driver, searching the vehicle. Check out the vehicle, records for safety, like they said they would. No problem as long as you ask every driver who’s stopped if they are illegal or not. That’s every driver since we can’t tell if the person is illegal from Mexico or England. Everyone, and if they don’t have their passport with them (driver license and social security cards anyone can get.) then they are taken downtown to be processed. I’m sure you drive with your passport to prove you are not an illegal.
Walter Purvis
2:25 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
It is a fact that when the police are working traffic in any given area crime goes down. The 4th Amendment has to do with UNREASONABLE search. It would be unreasonable for the police to just walk into your house and start searching without a warrant. However, driving is not a right, it is a privilege granted to you by the State.
If a police officer stops someone for a check of their vehicle and doesn't check them out to see if their license is valid, or if they are wanted for a warrant they would be negligent in their duties. What would you say if the driver wasn't checked upon being stoppped and that person's license was revokes, and he went and ran over your son or daughter. Let's say the person is wanted for burlary and isn't checked, then comes and breaks into your home. If the officer stops a vehicle and has a reason to believe that there is something going on in the vehicle he has a right to look further and if he steps over the line the court is there to say he has stepped over the line. As far as illegal immigrants, I believe that is the responsiblity of the Federal Government ,and understanding that it is the people that hire them to save money who are the real criminals.
Clarence Glynn Jr
2:43 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wow, you just answered my question. You say, crime goes down with police in the area. Which means if we had police everywhere there would be less crime. We should put police everywhere so we feel safe. Hey, why don’t we have a POLICE STATE!! Just like North Korea or the old Soviet Union. That way there would be no crime. As far as the 4th amendment goes against UNREASONABLE searches goes. Who defines unreasonable? You? Me? Government? I’m sure we all have different standard. Random checkpoints have been considered reasonable by the courts, so why wouldn’t random house checks be considered unreasonable? I’m still waiting on your computer account passwords and your wallet so I can look through them. You don’t mind given them to me since you have nothing to hide
Walter Purvis
3:24 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
It would be unreasonable for me to give you anything. The 4th Amendment has to do with unreasonable searches by the Government, and the judicial system, laws, and the courts determine what the government defines as resonable or unreasonable. Have they done away with civics courses in Maryland schools? I not talking about you feeling safe I was simply explaining facts.
Clarence Glynn Jr
3:40 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
It’s not unreasonable at all for you to let me look thru your records, papers and property. You have nothing to hide. Just give me the information. You don’t like others to have privacy but you wanted it for yourself. Very hypocritical, kind of that do as I say not as I do, liberal I’m mightier than thou kind of thinking.
Walter Purvis
4:21 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
Benjamin Franklin once said:
Silence is not always a Sign of Wisdom, but Babbling is ever a folly
Clarence Glynn Jr
6:01 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
he also said, those willing to give up freedom for security deserve neither
Daniel C
7:30 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2011
I think the keyword is 'commercial' I hope that it is limited to commercial...
Benjamin Franklin is also credited for saying: "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Rick Hudson
2:49 pm on Friday, November 4, 2011
The state has the right to check commercial motor vehicle safety. MSP is the part of the government tasked with that. If during the course of a routine stop, the officer discovers probable cause, he may search the vehicle. He can also ask to search the vehicle (8 out of 10 times dumb criminals give consent... watch Cops once in a while) and the cops find something and then arrest the criminals. This is not an attempt at suspending the 4th ammendment or any other ammendment (well, I am pretty sure the current state and federal administration would love to do away with the 2nd ammendment, but I digress). They are doing targeted enforcement which often times leads to finding things you weren't looking for to begin with. This is not anything to get bent out of shape over.
Ashley
7:01 pm on Thursday, December 22, 2011
Police departments have little incentive to focus on anything but whatever can net the department some money or grants. Traffic and drug violations end up being the priority, as they lead to more money, whereas focus on violent crime takes a backseat. If someone accused of assault is also thought to be in possession of marijuana, cocaine, etc., you better believe the police are going to focus their resources on catching him/her over someone accused of only assault where drugs are not involved. It's really all about the money.